‘Just The Beginning’: New Project To Double Malta’s Afforested Land Plants Almost 500 Indigenous Trees In Mosta
A 15-year project set on doubling Malta’s afforested land has already planted close to 500 indigenous trees in just 64 hours.
As part of Project Heals pilot project, Bee Savers Malta passws more than 1.2km of drip irrigation in over four tumoli of land in Mosta which has been fully planted with new indigenous, bee pollinated trees.
“We name this garden ‘Speranza Grove’,” the environmental conservation organisation wrote on social media.
The garden will start receiving visitors as of January 2026 in order to allow adequate growth of saplings.
“This is only the beginning.”
Project Heal was launched earlier this week and aims to double Malta’s afforested land within 15 years – bumping it up from 0.9% to 1.8%. It also seeks to make the land fully accessible to the public.
If this goes to plan, Malta will have 2,840 tumoli of afforested land.
Antoine Garland, founder of Garland Landscapers, told Lovin Malta that he’s “really pleased with the wave of enthusiasm” that erupted following the launch of the concept of Project Heal.
“There’s a great thirst for what we’re doing.”
However, he did admit that a lot of owners of small pieces of land have been showing their interest in collaborating and while this is highly appreciated, the project needs large-scale land.
“Small pieces of land cause an administrative burden which could prevent us from reaching our final aim,” he said.
“We need land owners with 10, 15, 1oo tumoli and above.”
Large space is needed primarily because it is a lot more cost effective. When the trees are centralised, less money needs to be spent on things like setting up irrigation, water transport, and maintenance. The larger the land is, the more economies of scale the organisation can create.
The project is envisaged to cost some €15 million taking into account maintenance for an additional five years, this equates to some €85 per tree.
“The general cost takes care of long term commitment of trees, we’re not going to plant trees and let them die in our harsh summers,” Garland assured.
Therefore, this sum will cover the purchasing, planting, setting up of irrigation, water transport and maintenance for an additional five years.
Project Heal is also ready to compromise with land owners when it comes to making their land public. On the one hand, Garland explained, the NGO does not want land owners to simply allow the project to afforest their land and then just close their doors. However, on the other they do not want the public to invade on the privacy of the land owner.
“A flexible arrangement between us and the land owner can be made. For instance, implementing a membership system, and/or establishing certain days and times, and so on. ”
The transformation is expected to take 15 years and it seeks to repair a number of environmental issues facing Malta as the country with the third highest population density in Europe, yet at the bottom of the EU’s afforested land chart.
More indigenous trees means improved air quality and water table, as well as the cooling of temperatures – combatting rapid desertification.
It will also address the number one hurdle that has led to bee decline in Malta: a lack of foraging spaces. The project further pledges full transparency of funds.
For the project to realise its vision, it does need some additional help. Project Heal is looking for other foundations and entities to collaborate and help with everything that goes on behind the scenes, because there’s a lot.
The NGO also looking for individuals interested assisting it with planning, managing land tracts, logistics, paperwork, hands on maintenance, social media and more.
To collaborate, you can contact the NGO directly on [email protected].
Do you hope to see Bee Savers’ vision materialise?